The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-02
/ OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

tuS uiuSuttaoo VIC. "oaAN
be encountered in attempting 9 detailed
account ofthe great National Drill, even
were the space allotted me much greater
than that afforded, by the columns of q
newspaper, 8. will not attempt to discuss
the subject in detail. The gentlemen
constituting the comm ittee which, few
months since. conceived Of, and have
since perfected and carried into execu.
ton, the details of so stupendous under.
taking; as that involved in the bringing
together in friendly competition the rep.
s1rresentative military organizations. Of
sthirty.one States and Territories, may
justly feel proud Of the success of their
undertaking.
The space surrounding the Washing.
tom Monument, covered With itssWhite
tents, rendered brilliant BY the varied
uniforms and regimental eolors of the
various organizations represented, and
the: scene lenlivened by. the strains of
martial music, serve to recall the days Of
1861 and '62, when, as nov, the streets Of.
! the National Capital echoed to the tread,
sof marching regiments. From Oregon to.
Maine and from Wisconsin to Texas
nearly every State in.the Union, sent her
Fsiquuotas to- the Drill, and whatever the
decision Of the judges may be as to the
relative merits Of the various organiza.,
lions; it may be truthfully said that
without q single exception, every one Of
the sixty companies present at the Drill
presented creditable appearance. both
in camp and uponsthe: irill;ground, and
the Nation may be justly proud that in
her citizen: soldiery she possesses stand.
ing army which will compare favorabiy;
if not in point Of numbers, at least in
proficiency in military discipline, with
the expensive standing armies of foreign
nations. ..s;,s..;.,5
AN unexpected incident occurred IN
connection with the parade on Wednes.
day evening. II had been expected that
all of the visiting companies would par
ticipate lin the parade. Several OF the
Southern companies, upon learning that
two colored organizations had been
assigned position in the line, refasedeto
march in their: company. 81. -. -
The exhibition drills of the various
ssorave companies were, 70 the general
public, the most interesting of5all the
exhibitions given by the visiting compa-
mics. The manner in Hbich the various
s;aney movements, wheeling, marching,
ibayonet and skirmish drills were axecnt.
ed, were wonderful. One oftheir feats-
the scaling Of a fifteen foot fence-fwas,
perhaps, the most difficult yet attempted
upon drill ground. At,..the word Of
command they broke fof the fence,
rapidly formed aspyramid, tossed up and
! passed over their guns. and with cat-like
,agilitY5followed themselves. Whenbnt
two men remained, and. the spectators
were guessing out way of saving them,
one, jumped upon the shoulders Of the
other, thence to the top of the fence, and
There turned. about and helped up his
fellow.
On Wednesday evening the camp was
visited by the mos. severe thunder storm
Of the season, but aside from the over.
turning oftwo or three ofthe tents which
had not been properly secured, and the
consequent drenching of the occupants,
little damage was done.
The President, accompanied by Mr..
Cleveland, Mr: and Mrs. Lamont, and q
party of select friends, left Washington
ON Thursday last for the Adirondack
region, wherethey will spend few days
in recreation upon the shores Of saranac
Lake. tits expected that the President
will return to Washington .on the 9th Of
June, and that he will spend the Summer
months at his country residence. 81. :